Jewish Peninsula is delighted to congratulate Dr. Jeffery Smith on his nomination as Virginia’s next Secretary of Education.

Dr. Smith has been a friend of our local Jewish community during his tenure as Superintendent of Hampton City Schools. His leadership has fostered an environment of inclusivity and mutual respect, and we have valued working with him and the school system he has led with such distinction.

We look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Smith in his new role and are confident that his commitment to excellence and understanding of Virginia’s diverse communities will serve students and families across the Commonwealth well. As our Commonwealth faces rising incidents of hate and intolerance, we are heartened by Dr. Smith's demonstrated commitment to combating all forms of hatred, including antisemitism, and creating safe, welcoming learning environments where every student can thrive.

Mazal tov to Dr. Smith on this well-deserved appointment.